Turbine.



G. T. OWENS.

TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1912.

1,074,738. Patented Oct. 7', 19,13.

2 SHEETS-SHEET l1 0. T. OWENS. TURBINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 5, 1912. 1,074,738. Patented Oct. 7, 1913,

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

wi bneooeo To all whom it may concern: Be it known that I, CHARLES T. Owens, a

CHARLES T. OWENS, F BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

- TURBINE.

norms-is. g

Specification of Letters Patent.

Application' filed November 1912. Serial in). 725,613.

a citizen of the United States, residing at-Baltimore, in'the State of Maryland, have mvented certain new and useful Improvements in Turbine-Engines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to turbines, and in particular to turbines-of the circumferential flow type.

' The in ventionhas for its objectto provide a multistage turbine having improved means for the removal ofexhaust from one partof the rotor and the re-admission thereof tov another part of the rotorin such manner as to utilize the expansion of the steam as advanth 'eously as possible; to provide im proved means for controlling all of the inlets and exhausts from a single point; 'to dispense with removable parts, so far as the inlet and exhaust ports are concerned; and

,to enable the space between; the rotor and the stator to be adjusted so that leakage of steam may be minimized or avoided and the relative positions of the parts regulated.

The improvedturbine has vanes carried by the rotor, the edges of which are arranged parallel to the axis of the main shaft, said vanes;co6perat-ing with vanes carried by the casing, the edges of said vanes being arranged at an angle to the axis of' the main shaft. In other words we have a series of vanes parallel to the axis of the main shaft, cooperating with another series of vanes which are not parallel to the axis of the main shaft, and-both radially disposed to the axis. r

Another feature of my invention is the arrangementof the inlet and exhaust ports, and the controlling valves for the same, for each-stage or rotor and its cooperating cylinder of the engine. The steam inlets are single openings, leading to the valve-chambers, while the exhaust ports of each sect-ion consist "of a plurality of openings which combine and enter the single intake port of the next succeeding valve chamber of the engine. All of the valves are operated in unison by a single crank shaft, said shaft being rocked by a piston under the'control of the operator.

By a reference to. the first two figures of,

the drawing it will be seen that I'have produced a very powerful engine in the smallest practical space, and the whole engine is mounted upon a single-base.-

The invention now will be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification, in which:

Figure 1' is a side elevation of my improved turbine engine; Fig. 2, is a plan view thereof; Fig. 3, is a section taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. at, .is a detail sectional view showing the connection between the cylinder and its valve chamber; Fig. 5, is a detail view of the parts shown in Fig. 4 but taken at right angles to the same; Fi 6, is a detail plan view ofthe parts shown in Fig; Figs. 7, .8 and 9, are detail views of the rotor, the vanes carried by the rotor and the cooperating vanes carried by the casing respectively; Fig. 10, is a detail view illustrating the manner in which thevanes of the rotor cooperate, with the vanes of the casing.

S1m1lar characters of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawing.

In the construction of my invention I provide a base 1, upon which base are mounted the cylinders 2, 3 and 4 of mypngine. As shown in the drawings the cylinder 9 is the high-pressure cylinder, the cylinder 3 may be termed the intermediate pressure cylinder, and the cylinder l: the low-pressure cylinder. In each of these cylinders is mount- ,ed a rotor, each of said rotors being secured to acommon main driving-shaft 5, said shaft being the main shaft of the engine. Suitable pulleys or gears may be attached to this shaft 5 for the purpose of imparting motion to machines of various kinds. Upon each of the cylinders is mounted a valve casing 6, saidcasing being shown in detail in Figs. a, 5 and 6 of the drawings. Each valve casing has a single inlet port '7 Patented @ct. 7,1913.

and a plurality of outlet ports 8, two of such outlet ports being shown in the drawings'. In Fig. 1 of the drawings, 1 have shown the inlet port of thehigh-pressure cylinder at the top of the valve casing, while the inlet ports of the intermediate and low-pressure valve casings are shown on the side, and all of the outletoidischarge ports are shown on the side; I do not desire to limit myself to this particular disposition of the inlet and outlet ports, as it is obvious the ports may he placed in several different positions with relation to the valve casings without affecting the scope of my invention. As shown in the drawings the inlet ports of 30 inder through the ports 12. if versely, if steam is" admitted through the and (iof tl'ie drawings that the ports 11' 5 lead into one endv of the cylinders, while the ports 12 lead into. the other. end of said cylinders. lt will also be seen that the ports 11 open in t0 ithe cylinders on a tangent,

and at the opposite-side to that'which the 2 0 ports 12 enter in a similar manner. The arrangeirientis such that-if steam is admitted throng the ports 11 it will turn the rotor in the direction shown by the arrow in Fig. 4 of the drawing, while if steam is admitted through the. ports 12 it will turn the rotor in ,theopposfie ircction. It will also be seen 4,- '5 'arid6 of the drawings that I iif flst'eam is admitted through the ports 11 tothe cylinder, it will exhaust from the cyl- And con- .fports 12 to the cylinder itwill exhaust 1 through the ports 11. into the valve chamher and through the outlet port 8, which is the coursejt would take when the valve is in the position shown in Fig. 4:"0f the acre-wings. The ports 11 and 12 are Similarly placed with relation to the valve casings and cylinders, for the high, intermediate and lowpressure'elements of my en- I Each valve-casing houses'a piston valve 13, the periphery of whlch s cut away to form a circumferential groove 14 around- I the same. As shown in Fig. 4c the groove 14;:

must be of sufficient width to cover the inletport, and at the same time one or the other of the ports 11 or 12. By reference to the above figure it will be seen that steam can enter the inlet port 7, pass around. the valve in the groove 14 and into the cylinder through the ports 12, and then exhaust through the ports 11. If-the valve is shifted to 'the,,,;p0sit1on shown in dotted lines the steam can take'areverse course, and exhaust out of the opposite end of the valve casing. To each of the valves is attached a valve stem ,15 which projects through a suitable packing gland '16 in the end of the casing,

and these valve stems are connected by a link 17 with-cranks 18 attached to a rockshaft 19 suitably journaled in'hearings 20 secured to thecylinder casings. rock-shaft 19 is fixed a crank arm 21 which is connected by a pitman 22 with a piston ,this character it is necessary tli To the rod 23 of a piston 24: in a cylinder under the immediate control of the engine operator. From the foregoing it will readily be seen thata movement of the rock-shaft 19 which will throw all g of the valves in the valve chests to. a position',. the reyerse ofthe one they occupy a revhrsal' ol 'theengine will take place. ln large enginesof the valves be moved quickly,and-.iniiniison; which rte-1. quires considerable power, hence the $18685 sity of having a power actuatedcrank shaft for doing this work. 7" As previously referred to archer the cyl-v lIlClBlS 2, 3 and house rbtoii, each rotor being keyed to thel'mai sliaftfif ofthe engine, the construction 0 hich' I will' now describe. y f

Each rotor consists of a cylinder 25 se-; cured by a web 26 toja hub 27 L The Yperiph cry of the cylinder has a plurality of grooves 28 cut therein. The ribs left onthe periphcry of the rotor are'cut into teeth, the edges of which are parallel to the axis of'the-main' shaft. The sides of the teeth 29 are curved g asshown at 30 in Figs. 4 and 7 of the drawings, making itpossible for the steam, to hit said teeth much squarer as it enters the cylinder; The inner circumference of the cyl inders is provided with grooves 31 through which the teeth 29 of the rotor travel. The cylinder is also provided with ringshaving teeth out in them on its inner Wall, and these teeth project into the grooves cut into the periphery of the-rotor, and co-act with the teeth formed by the peri hery of the rotor. As 'shown'in Figs. 5 an 9 the teeth on the inner wall ofthecylinders are arranged at an angle totheuaXiSQof the IlliLlILSilflft. The teeth 32 have curvedfwalls 33 simila'r to the curved sides on the teeth on the rotor. By

reference to. Fig. 15 of the drawings the steam enters the'cylinder through theport 11 and acts againstithe. teeth a of the rotor. As the steam continues to enter the cylinder .the-rotorbegins to move anda portion of the'steambworks through the side of the teeth and isjdefiectodby the teeth b oh the cylinder, against the next row of teeth c of the roto'ri 'fThe steam in like manner 1 15 passes frplmho -teeth c of the rotor through t e teeth rd'of the cylinderand against theteetlia. 6-. of therotor. A similar passage of' the steam takes place from the tect a of the rotor through the teeth f of the casing and into the pockets between the last row of teeth g of the-rotor. As the rotoris continually traveling around the steam will exhaust from the last row of teeth, or ratherfrom the pockets between the same through the port 12' and out through one of the exhaust ports of the valve casing. Again referring to Fig. 5 of the drawings it ,wlill be seen that the inclined teeth on the v inner wall of the cylinder direct the steam 13v iio iromonerow of teeth on the rotor against the walls of the next succeeding row of teeth .on-the rotor thusassisting the travel of t'he same. It will also be seen from the ab'owe figure that the steam enters the row-of teeth on one end of'the rotor, and exhausts from the rowof teeth. on the other end of the 'rotor; this holds good when the engine is traveling in either direction. As'tlie steam is continually entering the cylinder there is a constant flow from the first to the last rows of teeth: on the rotor .and this flow is being forced against the walls of said teeth by the inclined teeth 011 the inner'wall of the cylinders. The rotors for the high, intermediate and low pressure cylinders are similarly constructed, but I do not limit myself to the I particular number of rows of teeth shownon the drawings. The inner walls of each cylinder of my engine are similarly con structed but I donotdesire to limit myself .to the precise angle of the teeth as shown on the drawings.

For instance, in different iz'esof engines it may be desirable to set these teeth at a greater or less angle with respect to the'axis of the main shaft.

The inner walls of the cylinders have arranged-therein by-passes 35, said lay-passes being arranged in the-grooves between the teeth on the cylinder and assist in directing the steam squarely against the blades of the rotor.

, To assist in starting the engine I- provide starting valves-36 on the intermediate and low pressure-cylinders; These valves lead from live steampipes 37, and direct the steam against the blades of the rotor in each of theabove mentioned cylinders. The

' starting valves 36 assist materially in some cases in reversing the engine. I

The main shaft 5 is journaled in bearings 38 at tli'e ends of the engine and intermediate bearings 39 between the cylinders. These bearings are bolted firmly to the cylinder.

heads andmake a rigid and easy-running Journal for'the main shalt.

On the bearing between. the intermediate and low pressure cylinders I have shown :1. depending pocket 40 which houses a strong helical spring 41, said spring bearing against the bushing in the bearing preventing any wear that may occur in case 't-hebushing becomes loose. This or a similar construction would'be used onall bearings. The cylinders of my engine are made of upper and lower sections firmly bolted together with a soft metal filler plate between the meeting edges of the same. These filler plates or liners'may be removed and thinner ones substituted in case any wear has occurred necessitating such action. All of the rotors of my eng ne are constructed to run free in the cylinders'and vwithout any contact therewith; consequently the question of Wear is not an important one in the construction of this machlne.

The operation of my invention is as follows: Steam enters the high ressure cylinder from a suitable source 0 suppl circulates through the same as previous y described and exhausts through one of the exhaust ports of theiyalve casing of said.

cylinder. It then passes through the pipe or connection 9 into the valve chamber of the intermediate cylinder and pursues a course through the same as previously described in this specification. The steam then passes from the exhaust port of the valve casing of the intermediate cylinder to the valve casing of the low pressure cylinder,-

circulating through the same, and exhausting through one of the ports of said valve casing.

It will be seenfrom Figs. 1 and 2 of the drawings that the steam can pass from either one of the exhaust .portsof the valve casingson the high or intermediate pressure cylinders to the inlet port o'f'the next adjacent valve-cylinder. Of course the di= rection in which the engine is rotating will regulate the particular exhaust port from which the steam leaves the valve casing.

I do not desire to limit myself to the exact construction or dimensions shown on the drawings, or to three rotors, as two or four I ducting the steam from the exhaust ports of any turbine to the inlet port of the next succeeding turbine.

2. A multistage steam turbine engine having cylindrical casings each casing provided with internal circumferential rowsof vanes disposed at an angle to the axis of the rotor shaft, each casing containing a rotor fixed to a common shaft, the rotor being provided with peripheral rows of vanes, said vanes being parallel to t-heaxis of the main shaft, tangentially arranged ports leading to one end of each rotor, and tangentially arranged ports leading from the opposite end of said rotor, a valve chamber having a single in-. let port and a plurality of outlet ports attached to each stage of the turbine, and

means for conveying the exhaust from the several outlet ports of each stage to the single inlet port of each next succeeding stage, valves operating in each valve chamber, and means for operating all of said valves in unison,

3. A multistage circumferential flow turblue the stages oi Wlii -.h have. oppositely disposed ports arranged at the ends oi the rotor, cirenmt'erential rows of blades arranged at an angle to the axis oit' the shaft and a rotor co-aeting' therewith having peripheral roivs of blades each blade parallel with the axis ot' the shat; supplemental starting valves arranged to direct steam against thcgvanes oi the rotors ot the intermediate and low pressure vlinders.

l. lna multistage circumterential turbine. each stage having a valve chamber having inlet and outlet ports, oppositel3 disposed ports connecting said valve chamber with the turbine, a sliding piston alve in each valve casing, said sliding valve being actuated from a counter shaft disposed at an angle to the main shaft of the turbine, and a piston for rocking;- said counter shaft substantially as described.

5. A multistage circumferential turbine, each stage having oppositely disposed ports, said ports being at the opposite ends thereof, each stage having circumferential rows of tapered vanes attached to the inner Wall of the casing, said vanes being arranged at an angle to the axis of the main shaft, a rotor having circumferential rows of ta-i pered vanes, said vanes being parallel to the axis of the main shaft, the sides of said vanes being curved; curved ports in the easing and directed against the vanes of'the rotor. 1 2

6. A multistage circumferential flow turbine the stages of which have oppositely disposed ports alternating as inlet and outlet ports leading froma valve chamber, said valve chamber having a. single inlet portand a' plurality of outlet borts.

7. A multistage cu'cumt'erential flow tur bine the stages of which have oppositely disposed ports arranged at the ends of'the rotor alternating as inlet and outlet ports, circumferential rows of blades arranged at angle to the axle of the shaft, and a rotor co-acting therewith having peripheral rows of blades each blade parallel with the axis of the shaft, and supplemental starting valves arranged to direct steam against the vanes of the rotors of the intermediate and low pressure cylinders.

In testimony whereof I ailix my signature in presence of two Witnesses.

CHARLES T. OWENS.

W itnesses G. F. BAKER,

Jas. H. BLACKWOOD.

Gopiea of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the Commissioner of Patents.

Washington, D. 0. +-i 

